Fluid cooling apparatus



Sept. 4, 1934. F v| SHELR 1,972,800

FLUID COOLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3, 1933 il MMU' I A A EEEEEEEEEEPatented Sept. 4, 1934 1,972,800 FLUID cooLrNe APPARATUS Frederick L.Shelor, Richmond, Va., assignor to S. & S. Engineering'Corporation,Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application January 3, 1933,Serial No. 649,997V

12 Claims. (Cl. (i2-154) The invention relates to new and useful im,-provements in a fluid cooler which may be used for cooling thetemperature of a room, or which may be used for cooling drinking water,or for other purposes. g

Prior to my invention, uid coolers have been provided wherein a currentof air is passed over an absorbent material saturated with water. Theabsorbent material is placed on the outer surface l of a receptacle andwater from the receptacle is applied thereto through a wick leading intothe receptacle. One of the great disadvantages of an apparatus of thischaracter resides in the fact that when the air current is cut off forany reason, the means for supplying Water to the absorbent materialcontinues to function, resulting in the objectionable dripping of Watertherefrom.

An object of the present invention is to prof vide a fluid coolerwherein the air vcurrent flow- 2o ing across the Vaporizing surface ofthe cooler may be stopped and the supply of Water to the vaporizingsurface also stopped.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove character-with means for continuously supplying the receptaclewith water, so that the supply in the receptacle is maintained at apredetermined level.

A further object of the invention is toprovide an apparatus of the abovecharacter wherein a fan may be used for generating an air current, whichfan is placed below the receptacle, and wherein means is provided foratomizing any fluid collecting at the bottom of the receptacle anddripping on to the central portion of the fan.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus ofthe above type wherein a baille is arranged so as to provide arelatively long path of travel for the air current over the vaporizingsurface.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part behereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partlyin vertical section showing an apparatus embodying the improvements asapplied to the cooling of the air in a room;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view,` showing partly in section and partly inside elevation, the construction of the receptacle for the water and themanner of raising and lowering the same for varying the supply of waterto the absorbent material on the outer face thereof; and

Cil

Fig. 4 lis a vertical sectional view showing a cool drinking water.

portion only of the apparatus modied so as to be used for coolingdrinking water.

Said apparatus includes a receptacle which is supplied with rater insuch a way as to maintain a predetermined level of water.v Thereceptacle is liquidtight, and may be made of metal or any othersuitable :imperviousV material. On the outer face of the receptacle isan absorbent material which lmay be of any desired character which willabsorb water and distribute the same so that it'may be quicklyvaporized. This material is supplied with water from the receptacle inany suitable Way, and meansA is` provided for varying the amount ofwater supplied thereto and for cutting off entirely the supply ofwater,when desired. Surrounding the receptacle and spaced thereto is acasing for directing the air current over the vaporizing surface. Whenthe apparatus is used for cooling a room, the air in the room is causedto circulate through the casing and contact with the vaporizing surface.The vaporizing of the Water Will cool the air. When it is desired to usethe apparatus for cooling drinking Water, then a suitable supply pipeand spigot is provided which leads from the inner receptacle to a pointoutside of the casing. The converting of the water on the surface of theabsorbent material into a vapor not only takes heat from the air currentflowing over the surface of the absorbent material, but also heat fromthe receptacle and the water therein.

Referring more indetail to the drawing, the invention is embodied in anapparatus which is provided with an inner receptacle 1 preferably ofmetal, and which, as shown in the drawingis in4 general, cylindrical.

tacle, however, throughout a greater portion of its extent, at least, iscorrugated, thus forming inwardly curved sections 1a with outwardlycurved sections 1b therebetween. Located in the recesses formed by theinwardly curved portions 1a are brous cords 2 which extend preferablyfrom the top of the receptacle to the bottom thereof. Surrounding thefibrous cords and the receptacle is a wire mesh cylinder 3 which alsoextends from the top to the bottomvof the receptacle. The Acollar 4 maybe placed around the wire mesh cylinder for rrnly clamping kthe sameagainst the outwardly curved portions 1b of the cylinder, and

This secures the fibrous cords to the receptacle so that they remain xedthereto, as a unit. The inwardly curved portions 1a are provided with aseries of openings 5 arranged in a line substantially parallel with thebottom face of the receptacle. There is also a series of openings '7located above the openings 5.

Surrounding this receptacle 1 is a casing 9. The casing is attached to asupporting base 10 which is provided with openings 11, 11 covered by asuitable screen. Located within the base of the casing is a :motor 12carrying a fan 13. Surrounding the fan is a sleeve '14 which is attachedto the casing at intervals so as to' provide a space 15 between thesleeve: and the casing. Attached to the fan and rotating therewith is afunnel-shaped receptacle 16. Y Y

Located above the fan is aV shaft 17 extending horizontally through thecasing and mounted in suitable bearings therein. On the outer end ofthis shaft is a handle 18 whereby it may be turned'at will. Carried bytheshaft is a supporting member l19 having a flat face '2G relatively-close-to the sha't'le' and a flat face 21`at a relatively remotedistance therefrom. There are also flat faces 22 and 23 which areradially nearer the shaft than the face 21. The receptacle 1 rests onthis supporting member 19. When said supporting member is in the fullline position shown in Fig. 3, the receptacleis in its lowest positionin thecasing. Wheny the shaft is turned so as to place the supportingmember 19v in the broken line position, it will raise the'receptacle tothey dotted line position in said Figure 3. If the shaft 17 is turned soas to bring the'iiat face 21 beneath the receptacle, it will be raisedto a still higher position.`

Means is provided for supplying the receptacle 1 with water. In thepresent illustrated embodiment ofthe invention, the casing 9 is shapedso as to provide `a supporting bracket 25 carrying a' supporting member26 having a seat 27 to receive Vthe' neck of a bottle 28 which isinverted soas to4 project down through said seat. The bottle neckextends down into the receptacle and supplies the receptacle with water.The bottle hasal fixed relation to the casing and will pro'- videin saidreceptacle a water level' having a fixed position relative to thecasing. rI-'his water level is indicatedV by the broken line 24 in Fig.3 The water levelis not changed, but the recepta- Acle may be raisedandloweredv relative to this vwater level. When in its lowest position,I asshown in Fig. 3, the water level will be above the upper line ofopenings '7 so that both lines of openings 5 and l are beneath the waterlevel. Water will' pass Aout'through these openings, and contacting withthe brous cords, will saturatesaidl cords with water, thus forming onthe surfaces of the cords water films. When the shaftl 1`-'7 "is'rotated to the dotted vline position shown in Fig. 3, then the surface22 willftake the `position indicated at 22a, and the receptacle will beraised so that the openings 7 will be lifted to the dotted line positionindicated vat 7a, While the openings 5 will be liftedto the positionofthe openings 'Z'.kv In this posi-tion of the receptacle, only theopenings will be beneath the water level and supplyingwater to the brouscords. 'When the shaft -17 is rotated so as to support the receptacleon'the surface 21 of the supporting member 19, then they opening 5 willbe raised above the water level and the supply of water -to the brouscords out off. `It will be understood, of course, rthat any number ofrows of openings 1,972,eoo

may be provided, and thus the amount of water supplied to the brouscords varied at will, or cut oil entirely, whenever it is desired torender the apparatus inoperative.

Surrounding the bottle is a casing 29 having suitable louvers 30therein. There are also ports 31 in the'supporting member 26. lThecasing 9 is spaced from the receptacle as noted above, and a spirallylaid bafe plate 32 is disposed between the casing and the receptacle soas to provide a Vcir-'cuitous path for the air about the receptacle.

When the motor is connected to its operating circuit, the fan will causea current of air to flow rthrough this circuitous path between thereceptacle andthe casing and to pass on up through the ports 3l and outthrough the louvers 30. The air will pass into the wire mesh cylinderand cause more or less of a turbulence, thus insuring that the air willcontact with the water lm on the cords, giving up heat theretoior thevaporization 'of thewater. Thiswill cool theair; it will also coolthe-wall of'vthe receptacle, and the water within the receptacle. Thecooled-air passes on up and outthrough the louvers 3o, and willcirculate through the room and Ipass' in again through the openings 11.When it is desired to stop the circulation ofthe air, it is veryessential that the Water supply to thebrous cords be cut off, otherwisethe water will pass outthrough the openings and dripirom'the cords intothe ybase Aof the receptacle." Therefore,'when thernotor same. Insteadof fibrous cords, it will be understood that the absorbentmaterialforthefwater may be-i'n any Vsuitable form so as to'provide a water filmon-the surface thereof over which the air currents pass. The-specicforni shown is purely for the-"purpose of Ailhist'ratir.\.g one ernbodimentof the invention'. The brous cords may be of wicking or wovenfabric, or any other similar material. The cords, likewise, be made ofother material, such as ui'iglased earthen ware.V The essential featureconsists in providrm ing some sort of absorbent material which can becharged or supplied with ywater from the inm ner'reeeptacle, and' whichwill become saturated so as'to produce a'lm oflwater onits surface overwhichv the air currents may pass. g The purpose of the funnel carriedbyand rotating with the fan is to catchv any water which may accumulateandfdrip from thelower end of the cords. "Ihe water dropping' intothefunnel will be thrown by centrifugal force in the form of a spray offfrom the edge' of the funnel and will betaken upby the air currentspassing upwardly through the casing. YThe water accumulating on theinner surfaceoffthe casing may pass down through the openingsli'vbetween the sleeve surroundingthe-'fanV and the wall of t e casing.I

In Fig. 4 ofthe drawing, there is shown an tachment f for supplying cooldrinking water. This is'accomplished by a pipe 33' which into thereceptacle-1 andY out throught-he wall thereof, there being awatertightconnection between the pipe and the wall Aof the receptacle.

This pipe projects through a slot in the casing 1 and attached to theend thereof is a spigot 34. Attached to the casing is a bracket 35 onwhich the drinking cup 36 may be placed. The purpose of the slot in thecasing is to permit the receptacle 1 to be raised and lowered asdescribed above. The heat absorbed by the vaporization of the water willbe taken from the wall of the receptacle, and the water within thereceptacle, thus cooling the same. v

Itis obvious that changes in the details of construction and thearrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A fluid cooler comprising a liquid-tight receptacle, means formaintaining a predetermined level of water therein, an absorbentmaterial on the exterior of said receptacle, communicating means forsupplying water from thereceptacle to said absorbent material forsaturating the same, means for directing'a current of air over thesurface of the absorbent material for vaporizing the water thereon, andmeans whereby said communicating means may be shifted at will relativeto the level of thewater whereby the supply of water to the absorbentmaterial may be stopped.

2. A iiuid cooler comprising a liquid-tight receptacle, means formaintaining a predetermined level of water therein, an absorbentmaterial on the exterior of said receptacle, communicating means forsupplying water from the receptacle to said absorbent material forsaturating the same, a casing surrounding said receptacle and forming anair passage therebetween, a motor at the lower end of the receptacle forforcibly directing the current of air through the passage and over thesurface of the absorbent material for vaporizing the water thereon, andmeans whereby said communicating means may be shifted at will relativeto the level of the waterl whereby the supply of water to the absorbentmaterial may be stopped.

3. A fluid cooler comprising a liquid-tight receptacle, means formaintaining a predetermined level of water therein, an absorbentmaterial on the exterior of said receptacle, communicating means forsupplying water from the receptacle to said absorbent material forsaturating the same, a casing surrounding said receptacle and forming anair passage therebetween, a spiral baffle between the casing andreceptacle for producing a circuitous passage ior the air, a motordriven fan at the lower end of the receptacle for forcibly supplying anair current through said passage for vaporizing the water thereon, andmeans whereby said communicating means may be shifted at will relativeto the level of the water whereby the supply of water to the absorbentmaterial may be stopped. l

4. A fluid cooler comprising a liquid-tight receptacle, means formaintaining a supply of Water therein, an absorbent material on theexterior of said receptacle, means for supplying water from thereceptacle to said absorbent material for saturating the same, a motordriven fan at the lower end of the receptacle for directing a current ofair over the surface of the absorbent material for vaporizing the waterthereon, and means whereby the supply of water to the absorbent materialmay be stopped when the motor is stopped.

5. A iiuid cooler comprising a liquid-tight receptacle, a casingsurrounding said receptacle and spaced therefrom, a support carriedbythe casing above the receptacle on which a Water supplying receptaclemay be supported forfeed'- ing water to the receptacle and maintainingla predetermined level of water, an absorbent material on the outersurface of said receptacle,means whereby said absorbent material may, atwill, be caused to contact with the water in the receptacle orremoved'irom contact therewith, and a motor'- driven Yfan at the lowerend of the said'receptacle for driving an air current over the absorbentmaterial. l

6. A fluid cooler comprising a liquid-tight ref ceptacle, a casingsurrounding said receptacle and spaced therefrom, means for maintainingthe supply of water in said receptacle 'having Va predetermined levelrelative to the casing, an absorbent material on the exterior of saidcasing, a series of openings in the wall of said receptacle throughwhich water may be supplied from the receptacle to said absorbentmaterial, and means whereby the receptacle may be raised' and loweredfor positioning said openings above or below the predetermined waterlevel for varying the supply of water to said absorbent material or forcutting off entirely the supply thereto.

'7; A fluid cooler comprising a liquid-tight receptacle, a casingsurrounding'said receptacle and `spaced therefrom,Y means formaintaining the supply of water in said 4receptacle having apredetermined level relative to the casing, an absorbent material on theexterior of said receptacle, and means whereby water may be supplied tosaid absorbent material from said receptacle and the supply of watervaried or cut off at will.

8. A fluid cooler comprising a liquid-tight receptacle having the Wallthereof formed with inwardly curved portions extending vertically of thereceptacle, and forming recesses on the outer face thereof, absorbentmaterial in said recesses, the wall of said receptacle having lines ofopenings at different levels adjacent the upper end of the receptacleleading from the interior of the receptacle to said recesses forsupplying water from the receptacle to the absorbent material, a casingsurrounding said receptacle, means for maintaining a supply of water insaid receptacle having a predetermined water level of a fixed heightrelative to said casing, and means for raising-and lowering saidreceptacle in said casing for varying the position of the openingrelative to the water level whereby the supply of water to the absorbentmaterial may be varied or cut off at will.

9. A fluid cooler comprising a liquid-tight receptacle having the wallthereof formed with inwardly curved portions extending vertically of thereceptacle, and forming recesses on the outer face thereof, absorben-tmaterial in said recesses, the wall of said receptacle having lines ofopenings at different levels adjacent the upper end of the receptacleleading from the interior of the receptacle to said recesses forsupplying water from the receptacle to the absorben-t material, a wiremesh cylinder surrounding said receptacle and contacting with'theabsorbent material in said recesses, a casing surrounding saidreceptacle, means for maintaining a supply of Water in said receptaclehaving apredetermined water level of a fixed height relative to saidcasing, and means for raising and lowering said receptacle in saidcasing for varying the position of the openings relative to the Waterlevel whereby the supply of -WvfaterY to the; absorbent material `may beVaried on-Acutoff atzwill.

v v-.- Al fluid., coolerf comprising a; liquid-tightreceptaclehavingther wall thereof formed with inwardly curved portionsextending vertically of i the'receptacle7 and forming recesses vontheouter, face thereof, absorbent material in said recesses, `thefvvall of.said receptacle having lines of; openingsat di-lTerent-levels adjacentthe upperend of the receptacle leadingfrom the interior of thereceptaclev to said recesses for supplying water from thereceptacle tothe absorbent material, aA casing surrounding said receptacle, means formaintaining a supply of Water in saidreceptacle havingy a predeterminedWater levelof a ixedheig-ht relativeto said casing, and means vforraisingand lowering said receptacle in said casing for- Varying theposition of the openings relative-to` the `Water level whereby the`supply of v water tothe absorbent material may bevaried or cut off-atwill, saidfcasing being` spaced from said receptacle andhaving a baieplate therein vfor directing an aircurrent over thefsurface oftheabsorbent, material, and a motor driven fan in saidcasing beneath saidreceptacle 11. A;uidcooler` comprising a-liquid-tight receptacle havingthe Wall thereof. formed. with inwardly curved portionsextendingvertically of the receptacle; and-forming recesses on theouterface-thereof, absorbent material vin said recesses, the Wall. of saidreceptacle havingV lines ofropeningsfatdiierent. levelsadjacent theupper end of the receptacley leadingfrom the interior of the receptacleto; said recesses, for supplying Water from the, ,receptacleA to theabsorbent material, a casingsurroundingsaid1receptacle,rmeans formaintainingfa supply of water in said receptacle having apredetermined'fwater levelfof a fixed height relative to said casing;means for raising and lowering said receptacle. in said casing forvarying` the position of the openingsv relative. to the water levelwhereby the supply of Water tothe absorbent material may-be varied orcut 01T at will, said casing being spaced from said receptacleand'havinga bafevplate therein for directing an air current over the surface ofthe absorbent material,-anda vmotor` driven fan in said easing beneathsaid receptacle, said fan having a funnel recep-tacle rotating therewithand disposed beneath the rstnamed receptacle'for co1- lecting andvaporizing the Waterdropping from the -absorbentvmaterial.

v 12. A fluid-,cooler comprising a liquid-tight'receptacle,` means formaintaining a supply of Water thereto, an absorbent material on theexterior of thefreceptacle, means for supplying water from thereceptacle to theabsorbent material Yfor satu- 1a ting.` the same, meanswhereby the water supply to the absorbent materialmay be stopped atWill, and manually controlled. meansfor dispensing the Water-fromsaid'receptacle `for drinking purposes.

FREDERICK L. SHELOR..

